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Maori Education Pioneer Sir Tamati Reedy Dies at 89

5/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Sir Tamati Reedy died at age 89 in New Zealand.
He helped create the Te Whariki curriculum for bicultural early childhood education.
He served as secretary of the Maori Affairs Department (1983-89) and helped pass the 1987 Maori Language Act.
He was a Fulbright scholar, former Maori All Black, the University of Waikato’s Maori Emeritus Professor in 2010, and in 2007 founded the Nga Purapura Trust to fund Maori tennis players.

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Story summary

Sir Tamati Reedy died at age 89 in New Zealand.
He helped create the Te Whariki curriculum for bicultural early childhood education.
He served as secretary of the Maori Affairs Department (1983-89) and helped pass the 1987 Maori Language Act.
He was a Fulbright scholar, former Maori All Black, the University of Waikato’s Maori Emeritus Professor in 2010, and in 2007 founded the Nga Purapura Trust to fund Maori tennis players.